Q: What causes low back pain?

Low back pain can come from many things: sometimes it is a muscle strain or a joint that is not moving well. Sometimes it is a disc, nerve, ligament, arthritis, posture, old injuries, weak core muscles, tight hips, or too much sitting. Sometimes is is more serious: like a kidney issue. But sometimes, the body is just mad because you asked it to do the same thing over and over and over like sit like a shrimp for eight hours and then help your wife lift a couch on Saturday. Most low back pain is mechanical. That means it is related to how the bones, joints, muscles, discs, and nerves are moving and working together. The hard part is this: pain does not always tell the whole story. A small problem can hurt a lot. A bigger problem can hide for a while. That is why guessing is not the best plan. At Active Family Chiropractic, we look at how your body moves, where it is stressed, what motions hurt, what motions help, how you are spending your time and what your goals are, and whether your nervous system is involved. The goal is to name the pain and The Cause AND come up with a Game Plan to get you out of pain and then Keep You There.

Question 1

What causes low back pain?

Accepted Answer

Low back pain can come from many things: sometimes it is from a muscle strain or a joint that is not moving well. Sometimes it is a disc, nerve, ligament, arthritis, posture, old injuries, weak core muscles, tight hips, or too much sitting. Sometimes it can even be from a more serious issue like a kidney issue.

But sometimes, the body is just mad because you asked it to do the same thing over and over and over, like sit folded over like a shrimp for eight hours a day at work and then you asked it to help your wife lift a couch on Saturday.

Oftentimes low back pain is mechanical. That means it is related to how the bones, joints, muscles, discs, and nerves are moving and working together and consequently will respond well to chiropractic care.

The hard part is this: pain does not always tell the whole story. A small problem can hurt a lot. A bigger problem can hide for a while.

At Active Family Chiropractic, we look at how your body moves, where it is stressed, what motions hurt, what motions help, how you are spending your time and very importantly, what your goals are for living the rest of your life.

The goal is to name the pain, define the cause & then come up with a Game Plan to get you out of pain and keep you there as you continue to age and (hopefully) adventure your way through your life.

Question 2

when should i worry about low back pain (lbp)?

Accepted Answer

Most low back pain is not dangerous. That is good news. But some symptoms need medical attention right away. Seek urgent or emergency care if your low back pain comes with: Loss of bladder or bowel control Numbness in the groin or saddle area New or worsening leg weakness Fever or signs of infection Pain after a fall, crash, or major injury History of cancer with new back pain Unexplained weight loss Severe pain that is getting worse instead of better Pain that wakes you up and does not change with position These are called red flags. Red flags do not mean panic. They mean do not ignore it and do not try to tough-guy your way through it. If those signs are not present, your low back pain may still need care, but it is less likely to be a medical emergency. Our job is to help you sort this out. If we think we can help you, we will tell you; AND if we think that you are NOT in the right place, we will tell you that too.

Question 3

is my lbp from a muscle, a nerve, a disc or the joint?

Accepted Answer

Great question: it could be any of those, most likely there is a component of each.

For example: your LBP could be a result of arthritis, poor core control, or old injury patterns. Each of those will involve the spinal joint where 2 (or more) bones come together, the disc between those spinal bones, the muscles that move those bones and the nerve that is trying to exit the spine at that level.

To make it more complicated, sometimes symptoms overlap.

Pain down the leg may involve a nerve, but not always.

Tight muscles may be the cause, or they may be guarding something deeper.

A disc bulge can hurt, but some people have disc bulges and no pain at all.

Arthritis can show up on imaging, but that does not always mean it is the main pain source.

That is why we do not love guessing games. That is one of the reasons we take x-rays; that is why You WANT x-rays.,

At AFC AZ, we look at your x-rays, your posture, all of your movement patterns, your muscle control, your pain patterns, how you work and what your goals hare. That is how we properly assess and diagnose you. THEN we come up with a Game Plan.

Your Alpha 5 Phase System is based on the compilation of that information. It is individual to you. And it is BUILT on your participation :)

Question 4

can chiropractic help low back pain?

Accepted Answer

For many people, yes. Chiropractic care may help your low back pain by improving how the spine and body move, reducing joint restriction, calming irritated tissues, and helping the nervous system work with less stress. It is also KEY to maintaining your spine and nervous system for Now, and more importantly, for "Later" as you age. In our experience, the Adjustment is not the ONLY THING that has to be addressed. If your back keeps hurting because your body is weak, stiff, unstable, or moving poorly, one adjustment may help you feel better, but it may not fix the pattern. That is why we use our Alpha 5 Phase System: Relieve the pain Realign the body Rebuild strength Retrain movement Reclaim your normal life The goal is not to chase pain forever. The goal is to help your body become stronger, more stable, and more trustworthy. Remember: NO ONE IS COMING BECAUSE THE HERO IS ALREADY INSIDE YOU (hint: its your nervous system)

LOW BACK PAIN

Low Back Pain Questions People Ask Before They Know Who to See

What causes low back pain?

when should i worry about low back pain (lbp)?

How can I relieve low back pain at home?

is my lbp from a muscle, a nerve, a disc or the joint?

can chiropractic help low back pain?

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